Device for shifting valve-eccentrics



(No Model.)

G. BROWN. DEVICE FOR SHIFTING VALVE EGGBNTRIGS. No. 429,415.

Patented June 3, 1890.

n1: nonmsyn ins tin, maro-u'ruo WASNINGTON, n c.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BROWN, OF OTTIIMII A, IOIVA.

' DEVICE FOR SHIFTING- VALVE-ECCENTRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,415, dated June 3, 1890. Application filed March 21, 1890. Serial No. 344,772- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, GEORGE BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ottumwa, in the county of Wapello and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Devices for Shifting Valve- Eccentrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mechanism for reversing or shifting the eccentrics which operate the cut-off in steam-engines; and it consists, substantially, in so ch features of construction, arrangement, and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

Before proceeding with a more detailed de-v scription of the peculiar form of reversing or shifting mechanism resorted to in the practice of my invention I desire to state that merely for the purposes of illustrating the Working or operation of my invention I shall hereinafter describe the same in connection with certain wedge devices which actuate the eccentric either directly or through some intermediate connection from thedriving-wheel (not shown) of the engine.

My peculiar reversing or shifting mechanism is connected to the eccentric-operating wedges ina manner hereinafter more fully explained, so that by operating such shifting or reversing mechanism in one direction or the other a complete reversal of motion can be had and a consequent change in the stroke of the cut-off effected.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ a suitable hub, which surrounds the engine-shaft, and in which both the valve-eccentric and the wedges which actuate the same are guided and held, the said hub being of a length sufficient to enable the clutch-collar which connects with the eccentric-wedges to shift thereon, and thereby give to such eccentric-wedges a full bearing in whatever position they may be.

In constructing and arranging the shifting or reversing mechanism for the valve-eccentric I employ a hub or frame on one end of the engine shaft, which frame is so conand working in connection with said sliding box and the collar are two rods connecting at one end with the collar, and being formed at or near their opposite ends with lugs which work in the wedge-shaped recesses of the box, and which have inclined or beveled sides corresponding to the inclined sides of their respective openings. The result of this con struction and arrangement is that by sliding the wedge-box from one side to the other the valve-eccentric can be completely reversed from one side of the shaft to the other, with an obvious effect on the motion of the valve.

In the drawings, Figure 1' represents atop or plan view of my improved shifting or reversing devices, the same indicating the eccentric in a position to give to the valve the shortest stroke. Fig. 2 represents a similar view with the eccentric shifted to the opposite side of the shaft to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the valve-eccentric and its operating-wedges, and also showing a plan view of the shifting-box with covering-plate removed. Fig. 4 is a side view of the valve-eccentric, with engine-shaft in section, as it would appear when in the position indicated by Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side view of the reversing or shifting box as when viewed from the end of the engine-shaft. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of said box, so as toniore clearly indicate the construction and arrangement of parts. Fig. 7 is a perspective view in detail of one of the rods which connects with the collar.

Reference being had to the several parts of the drawings by theletters marked thereon, A represents the shaft of the engine, and B represents the valve-operating eccentric, surrounding which is the yoke O, to which the valve-rod a is connected, as shown. Surrounding the shaft and serving asa guide for both the valve-eccentric, as well as the wedges b b, which actuate said eccentric, is a hub c,

the length of which is sufficient to enable the collar F to move thereon, and also to furnish a full bearing for the wedgesb b, in whatever position they may be. The said wedges b b are supposed to be operated in any suitable manner by devices (not shown) from the driving-wheel, (also'not shown,) and I desire to state that such wedges are merely shown herein to illustrate the working of my improved shifting devices, it being my intention to claim the same, together with devices for operating them, in a subsequent application.

E represents what I term a sliding box, in the upper and lower sides of which are formed triangular-shaped recesses e 6, (best seen in Fig. 3,) the said recesses being oppositely arranged or situated with respect to each other, so that the inclined side of one recess will lie in the opposite direction to the inclined side of the other, and thereby cause the shifting of the valve-eccentric in the manner hereinafter explained.

F represents a collar that moves on the hub c for the eccentric, and which is connected to the wedges b b, as shown at g g, and connected to said collar are two rods h h, which are formed on their corresponding sides with lugs i t, working in the recesses e c, and having inclined faces which correspond with and work against the inclined sides of their respective recesses. By this construction it will be seen that on sliding the box E in one direction-say to the right, as shown in Fig. 1the inclined side f of the upper recess 6 will move against the correspondingly-inclined side of the lug of the upper rod h,which works therein, and thereby force said rod toward the eccentric and carrying the wedge-eccentrics therewith. WVhen desired to shift the valve-eccentric to the position shown by Fig. 2, the box E is drawn in the opposite direction and the reverse is the operation.

The sliding box E works in a hub G, that is fitted loosely on the shaft between the end of the eccentric-hub c and a set'collar m,

thereby being held in place. The said hub is provided on its upper and lower sides with covering-plates n n, which are recessed to fit over the rods h h, and thereby serve as a guide to insure their proper movement or guidance when the sliding box is operated from one side to the other.

By referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings the manner of working of the several parts will be understood from the dotted lines, and on reference to Fig. 6 a better illustration of the construction will be found.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In valve-gear for steam-engines, the combination, with the eccentric and the wedges for operating the same, of the collar fastened to said wedges, the bars h h, connected to the collar, and the sliding box for operating said bars, substantially as described.

2. In valve-gear for steam-engines, the combination, with the collar, of the sliding box E, having inits upper and lower sides the triangular .or wedge-shaped recesses the inclined sides of which are arranged to lie in opposite directions, and the bars h It, provided with lugs fitting in said recesses, said lugs being provided with correspondiugly-inclined edges, against which the inclined sides of the recesses work, substantially as shown and described.

3. In valve-gear for steam-engines, the combination, with the sliding box and the rods 71 71, both constructed as described, of the hub in which said box works and is guided, the said hub having upper and lower coveringplates, which embrace the rods and insure their proper guidance in operation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE BROWN.

Witnesses:

E. 0. McELRoY, M. A. ROBERTS. 

